Repurposing Renin–Angiotensin System Drugs for the Treatment of Audiovestibular Disorders

TL;DR

This paper explores repurposing RAS drugs, like ARBs, to treat inner ear disorders such as hearing loss and tinnitus by targeting inflammation and oxidative stress.

Contribution

The novelty lies in proposing ARBs as potential otoprotective treatments for audiovestibular disorders based on their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Findings

RAS inhibition with ARBs may reduce inner ear inflammation and oxidative stress.

Existing evidence supports repurposing ARBs for hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo.

ARBs have established safety profiles, making them promising candidates for new therapeutic use.

Abstract

Audiovestibular disorders arising from the inner ear (e.g., hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo) are widely prevalent in the United States. Yet, medical treatments targeting the underlying pathology of these disorders remain scarce. The practice of repurposing FDA-approved drugs for new therapeutic indications has become increasingly common, offering a lower risk route to treatment development with fewer barriers to implementation, as safety profiles are already established. The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is well known for its role in blood pressure and fluid balance, and its overactivation induces acute and chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. This review discusses existing evidence and proposed otoprotective mechanisms of RAS inhibition, specifically using angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs), which support the repurposing of these medications as novel treatments to affect the inner ear pathologies that underlay hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo.

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